BREAKING NEWS - NFL set to host a game in Melbourne, Australia next year between Philadelphia Eagles and LA Rams

[JohnS]

Apparently, fresh news was broadcast on morning television programs this Sunday morning that the NFL will stage annual games in Melbourne, Australia for three years in October. As a guide, I am guessing that this event would be held the week after the AFL Grand final, which would be the first Sunday in October. The weather would be likely a perfectly balmy 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit). The game would take place between 11 am and Midday Melbourne time, which would equate to 8 pm to 9 pm in New York City on the American east coast, in my view.

The NFL has a large following in Australia and I have little doubt that 100000 spectators would show up to an NFL game at that time of year at the MCG (i.e. the Melbourne Cricket Ground - the largest capacity cricket stadium in the world).

NFL set to host a game in Australia next year between Philadelphia Eagles and LA Rams

By JACK BEZANTS - Published: 22:13 GMT, 1 February 2025

The NFL is reportedly going to Australia, with a 2026 game between Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams set to be held in Melbourne.

According to a report in the Herald Sun in Australia, Melbourne will host three in-season games spread over several years. The first is said to be between the Rams and Eagles, and will be played in October 2026.

The report says it will be held at the MCG, a 100,000-seater multi-purpose stadium that is used for cricket and AFL (Australian Rules Football). 

The Eagles are in next week's Super Bowl in New Orleans against Kansas City Chiefs and lifted the trophy in 2018. The Rams, meanwhile, won the Super Bowl in 2022. 

This season, the Rams lost to the Eagles in the playoffs in a gripping 28-22 divisional round game in the snow in Philadelphia.

The Eagles would be an especially appealing team to take the game to Australia, given they have Australian Jordan Mailata on their roster. 

The Philadelphia Eagles could be heading to Melbourne, Australia in the 2026 season

The game would be held at the MCG, a 100,000-seater stadium used for cricket and AFL

The NFL said in a statement to DailyMail.Com: 'Australia is an important market for the NFL globally and we are committed to growing the game at all levels across the continent. 

'As we’ve previously shared, we’re continuing to explore the possibility of a game in-market.'

The time difference could work for NFL fans back in the United States, too. 

Philadelphia is 16 hours behind Melbourne and LA 19 hours back. An early Sunday afternoon timeslot in Australia, for example, would catch a Saturday night crowd in Philly and LA. 

And the NFL been aggressive in trying to expand its overseas appeal. This season, regular season games were held in London, Germany and Brazil - the latter of which also involved the Eagles.

The report in Australia adds that teams heading to Melbourne will put on a week of NFL-related activities in the city, including fan zones with areas around Melbourne screening the game. 

For now, the Eagles are focusing on next week's Super Bowl against Travis Kelce and the Chiefs, who will enter the history books with a victory as the first team in the Super Bowl era to win three straight titles. 

They beat the Eagles in 2023 in Arizona to start that run, meaning this year's game also gives Philadelphia a shot at revenge. 

The Eagles beat the Rams 28-22 in the playoffs in January in snowy Philadelphia 

This time, they have Saquon Barkley in their ranks, who Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said is one of the best running backs ever to play the game.

The Rams, meanwhile, could face a bit of reshuffle during the offseason. 

Matthew Stafford, the quarterback, faces an uncertain future after hinting he would consider retirement after the offseason loss to the Eagles.

Wide receiver Cooper Kupp is also expected to leave the team. 

Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/nfl/article-14350633/NFL-host-Australia-Philadelphia-Eagles-LA-Rams.html

[Bill Hayes]

Like the idea. Tickets will be at a premium cost but should still draw a big crowd. Us Melbournians turn up to sporting events en masse, largely due to the public transport system allowing for reasonable access... and our beaches aren't as beautiful as our neighbours in other states. Ha ha! Although, I'd take our rugged Baroque ocean beaches any day - he says in lousy attempt at Pirate voice. On the downside, I really hate the stupid rivalry between states. I think this game will be on the same time as the NRL grand final, usually hosted in Sydney or Brisbane. Last year the NRL hosted a game in Vegas, which was a success. So, the AFL invented an Opening Round a week ahead of schedule. Now, the AFL is trying to trump the NRL. It's just petty tit for tat stuff IMHO. It's still a great get by the AFL but I can't help think it was all ego driven. Anyhoo, I'll watch both and Bathurst 1000 car racing the weekend after. No need to pick sides against different codes. But within codes - Go Richmond Tigers, Melbourne Storm, Miami Dolphins, Chicago Blackhawks, Chelsea FC, LA Lakers............................. Play on!

[MrBirdman]

I’m thrilled for Australia - less thrilled the Eagles are losing a home game for the second year in a row. Especially since they only have 8 next year. Hope it’s a great game for Oz though, very happy for football fans throughout the country!

Edit: I didn’t pick up that this is 2026 - two years in advance. 

[Ken Gargett]

i'm horrified. the iggles here. apparently the iggles and rams are our allocated teams. what muppet came up with that? already cheering for the rams. 

it is overdue - the concept of a game down here, not the iggles - and it will get a massive crowd. that said, it might depend a bit on pricing. seeing the prices of some of the games, those prices are horrendous. they would be better off making the pricing family friendly because no doubt there'd be squillions of kids keen. the average price for the commanders v lions was somewhere north of A$1000 a ticket, i believe. they won't get 100,000 at those prices. 

one thing - john, you just won this year's bravest man award, daring to predict Melbourne weather 18 months plus in the future. tough enough to get it right on the same day. 

iggles aside, it is great to see this. twenty plus years ago, when i was still working on the gold coast, a few of us tried to get a delegation together to the council to try and convince an NFL team (any team, although there are some about which i had reservations) to come to the Coast to use it as a pre-season training base. the idea of an actiual game was way beyond the thinking at the time. nothing came of it. at the time, the council were struggling to establish basketball and rugby league teams and the idea of American Football was more than they could cope with. 

[SCgarman]

15 minutes ago, Ken Gargett said:

i'm horrified. the iggles here. apparently the iggles and rams are our allocated teams. what muppet came up with that? already cheering for the rams. 

it is overdue - the concept of a game down here, not the iggles - and it will get a massive crowd. that said, it might depend a bit on pricing. seeing the prices of some of the games, those prices are horrendous. they would be better off making the pricing family friendly because no doubt there'd be squillions of kids keen. the average price for the commanders v lions was somewhere north of A$1000 a ticket, i believe. they won't get 100,000 at those prices. 

one thing - john, you just won this year's bravest man award, daring to predict Melbourne weather 18 months plus in the future. tough enough to get it right on the same day. 

iggles aside, it is great to see this. twenty plus years ago, when i was still working on the gold coast, a few of us tried to get a delegation together to the council to try and convince an NFL team (any team, although there are some about which i had reservations) to come to the Coast to use it as a pre-season training base. the idea of an actiual game was way beyond the thinking at the time. nothing came of it. at the time, the council were struggling to establish basketball and rugby league teams and the idea of American Football was more than they could cope with. 

Is NFL football that popular in Australia? And if so why?

[Ken Gargett]

Just now, SCgarman said:

Is NFL football that popular in Australia? And if so why?

i don't know the figures these days. 

for me, when i was a kid, there was just one game a year on tv - the superbowl and it would be at about 3am as it was a day game then. sports fans would get up to watch it though we had little idea. in the 90s, there was a late night highlights show. 

now, with streaming and all the services, i find that i can watch more of it than some of my American friends, depending in what region they are. i have commander fan friends who can't watch the team often, if they don't live in DC.

we also get a couple of free-to-air games every week, Monday morning. plus all playoffs for free. so that has certainly increased interest. i enjoyed it when i lived in London, which had way better coverage than we did way back then, but it was more a curiosity. then when i moved to DC, absolutely loved it and have ever since. and DC, at least back then, was a serious NFL city. 

you'll get a huge crowd for a once a year game but you'd certainly struggle to fill the stadium if it was every week here. but it certainly has good support. 

[westg]

They can use the Collingwood players for a cheer leading squad. 🫠

[BoliDan]

9 hours ago, Ken Gargett said:

i'm horrified. the iggles here. apparently the iggles and rams are our allocated teams. what muppet came up with that? already cheering for the rams. 

it is overdue - the concept of a game down here, not the iggles - and it will get a massive crowd. that said, it might depend a bit on pricing. seeing the prices of some of the games, those prices are horrendous. they would be better off making the pricing family friendly because no doubt there'd be squillions of kids keen. the average price for the commanders v lions was somewhere north of A$1000 a ticket, i believe. they won't get 100,000 at those prices. 

one thing - john, you just won this year's bravest man award, daring to predict Melbourne weather 18 months plus in the future. tough enough to get it right on the same day. 

iggles aside, it is great to see this. twenty plus years ago, when i was still working on the gold coast, a few of us tried to get a delegation together to the council to try and convince an NFL team (any team, although there are some about which i had reservations) to come to the Coast to use it as a pre-season training base. the idea of an actiual game was way beyond the thinking at the time. nothing came of it. at the time, the council were struggling to establish basketball and rugby league teams and the idea of American Football was more than they could cope with. 

Of course it would be one of your division rivals, that's how things work. Would go all the way to Melbourne if it was Commies? I thought the designated teams in London change every now and id assume the same would apply to upsidedownland. 

[Ken Gargett]

8 hours ago, BoliDan said:

Of course it would be one of your division rivals, that's how things work. Would go all the way to Melbourne if it was Commies? I thought the designated teams in London change every now and id assume the same would apply to upsidedownland. 

i did see one article which said they were our allocated teams, but i don't know what that means. it would be insane to have the same teams every year. if Washington was playing, i would certainly seriously consider it - I've gone to Melbourne and further for springsteen so no reason i would not go for Washington. but i am sometimes a touch superstitious and every time (okay, granted it is only once) i have seen them live, they have lost. so very wary about things like that (i had a song on the CD in the car early one rugby season and we won the game so i could not change that song until after the final, many months later, which we won, so it worked - the fact that the song was 'born to run' made it much more bearable but after several months of only one song, even i was ready for a change). but it would depend on timing, pricing (i'm not paying stupid money, even to see JD5) etc. but yes, i'd very seriously consider it. 

[Ken Gargett]

21 hours ago, Bill Hayes said:

Like the idea. Tickets will be at a premium cost but should still draw a big crowd. Us Melbournians turn up to sporting events en masse, largely due to the public transport system allowing for reasonable access... and our beaches aren't as beautiful as our neighbours in other states. Ha ha! Although, I'd take our rugged Baroque ocean beaches any day - he says in lousy attempt at Pirate voice. On the downside, I really hate the stupid rivalry between states. I think this game will be on the same time as the NRL grand final, usually hosted in Sydney or Brisbane. Last year the NRL hosted a game in Vegas, which was a success. So, the AFL invented an Opening Round a week ahead of schedule. Now, the AFL is trying to trump the NRL. It's just petty tit for tat stuff IMHO. It's still a great get by the AFL but I can't help think it was all ego driven. Anyhoo, I'll watch both and Bathurst 1000 car racing the weekend after. No need to pick sides against different codes. But within codes - Go Richmond Tigers, Melbourne Storm, Miami Dolphins, Chicago Blackhawks, Chelsea FC, LA Lakers............................. Play on!

bill, it was four games in Vegas, i think, and was a big hit for them. they have them again, with different teams. 

there are certain things i love about Victoria (give me time and i'll think of them), but spare me, your beaches are not one of them. not when one comes from Queensland. 

there is no possible way they have this NFL game the same time as the NRL or AFL grand final (they used to be the same weekend but sensibly split them). why would you go up against two of the very biggest sporting events of the year? would make no sense. i would imagine two to three weeks after the NRL final. if they try and compete, they'll be a footnote hidden away. a couple of weeks later and they can have full attention on themselves. 

does anyone understand opening week? i did not realise it was their attempt to compete with the NRL in Vegas. it seems a truly stupid concept. we now have an opening week for some teams and a round one for others? dumb. you are right, lots of people will watch both. but that sort of stop/start to the season for AFL just makes it hard to get into it. 

the rivalry came about because the two largest populations have always tried to put their heel on the smaller ones. and treated them appallingly. look at selecting cricket teams in the old days. a Qlder could score ten centuries in a row but if someone from nsw or Victoria remembered to turn up to the ground, even if he forgot half his gear, dropped three catches and got a duck, he was odds on for the spot. just think about how/why origin came about. nsw still does not properly understand origin - at least i know that many Qld players believe that. we had such a gutful of nsw pinching our players. and Qlders never forget. 

[Bill Hayes]

7 hours ago, Ken Gargett said:

does anyone understand opening week? i did not realise it was their attempt to compete with the NRL in Vegas. it seems a truly stupid concept. we now have an opening week for some teams and a round one for others? dumb. you are right, lots of people will watch both. but that sort of stop/start to the season for AFL just makes it hard to get into it. 

The new AFL boss and his sidekick are lawyers put in place to ensure the AFL doesn't get sued for concussion injuries and for racism/sexism. They have also been charged with growing the game in NSW and QLD. Hence, opening round was put in place a week earlier with Vic teams playing interstate rivals in NSW and QLD. Only 4 games I think were chosen. Richmond Tigers coach went to coach Gold Coast so Tigers v Suns at GC etc. Brisbane v Carlton at GABBA which I call the memorial Coleman/Docherty match where both players did a season ending injury in ridiculous early season monsoon slippery conditions. It's like the AFL bosses have no idea about scheduling whatsoever. Most AFL fans down here detest the Opening Round idea put forward last year IMHO but egos are too big to scrap it. The TV networks pump it up but it was a flop in terms of injuries to players and the standard of the games and skills etc. It's also created an unbalanced draw which the AFL has anyway, but this has enhanced it even more with some teams getting two bye rounds to recover in the first half of the season and other teams getting 4 and 5 day breaks after travelling interstate. Player management has become paramount, so a lot of star players get rested a lot. The fans come out to see their heroes, not watch them tear hamstrings off the bone because they are overworked.

I personally think there should be less games but the AFL also put in another round called Gather Round to showcase a round of games in Adelaide. Anyhoo, hopefully the NFL game doesn't conflict with the NRL GF but I fear that the MCG is contracted for cricket directly after the AFL GF. Maybe the NFL on Sunday and NRL on Saturday if same weekend. Think NFL has to be Sunday for US TV viewing. I'm hopeful it all works out well and we can showcase all three on their own weekends. Good for each state that way I reckon. Unfortunately, I can see a lot of AFL and/or NRL fans missing out on GF tickets due to double packages to US fans, players, corporates etc. Come watch the AFL GF then the NFL the week after at the Mighty MCG. Or NFL/NRL packages to corporates. Wait and see I guess. PS. Brisbane Lions look very good to go back to back this year with the inclusions and draft. Go Tigers!!!!!!!!!!! Cheers and Roar!

[Ken Gargett]

6 hours ago, Bill Hayes said:

The new AFL boss and his sidekick are lawyers put in place to ensure the AFL doesn't get sued for concussion injuries and for racism/sexism. They have also been charged with growing the game in NSW and QLD. Hence, opening round was put in place a week earlier with Vic teams playing interstate rivals in NSW and QLD. Only 4 games I think were chosen. Richmond Tigers coach went to coach Gold Coast so Tigers v Suns at GC etc. Brisbane v Carlton at GABBA which I call the memorial Coleman/Docherty match where both players did a season ending injury in ridiculous early season monsoon slippery conditions. It's like the AFL bosses have no idea about scheduling whatsoever. Most AFL fans down here detest the Opening Round idea put forward last year IMHO but egos too big to scrap it. The TV networks pump it up but it was a flop in terms of injuries to players and the standard of the games and skills etc. It's also created an unbalanced draw which the AFL has anyway, but this has enhanced it even more with some teams getting two bye rounds to recover in the first half of the season and other teams getting 4 and 5 day breaks after travelling interstate. Player management has become paramount, so a lot of star players get rested a lot. The fans come out to see their heroes, not watch them tear hamstrings off the bone because they are overworked.

I personally think there should be less games but the AFL also put in another round called Gather Round to showcase a round of games in Adelaide. Anyhoo, hopefully the NFL game doesn't conflict with the NRL GF but I fear that the MCG is contracted for cricket directly after the AFL GF. Maybe the NFL on Sunday and NRL on Saturday if same weekend. Think NFL has to be Sunday for US TV viewing. I'm hopeful it all works out well and we can showcase all three on their own weekends. Good for each state that way I reckon. Unfortunately, I can see a lot of AFL and/or NRL fans missing out on GF tickets due to double packages to US fans, players, corporates etc. Come watch the AFL GF then the NFL the week after at the Mighty MCG. Or NFL/NRL packages to corporates. Wait and see I guess. PS. Brisbane Lions look very good to go back to back this year with the inclusions and draft. Go Tigers!!!!!!!!!!! Cheers and Roar!

bill, NRL is a Sunday final. not even god gets that moved to accommodate a rival code, even if a foreign one. given the dollars involved, it would not be hard to convince a shield game to go to another oval or to pick a weekend they are not playing. great mate of mine, john wylie - you might have come across him in victoria as he has a finger in everything - seems connected with the MCG so i will try and find out, but too early so far. at this stage, no schedule in place for next year, let alone the one after. 

i could possibly see a package for the Sunday post the AFL grand final but i think it would be crazy. why would the AFL be complicit in taking the focus off their own grand final, because the first NFL game downunder will get huge coverage (and once the game is over, that would allow all focus onto the NRL final - just doesn't make sense to me). and if the AFL tried to influence the NFL to have it in competition with the NRL final, you can bet the NRL would respond. perhaps rule out any origin games in Melbourne for a while or whatever. put big games on to clash with AFL games. can't see it. also, both codes are way, way bigger here than what will be, for the vast majority of those attending, a curiosity. the NFL are not stupid (even if they let slimy dan be an owner for decades) and they would not be trying to compete. same as they surely will not have it the weekend of the Melbourne Cup festival. 

also, don't forget, that the NFL schedule is a massively complicated thing which most certainly will not revolve around when it suits us to host a game. 

agree with all that re the opening round. a mess.

that was the game that carlton came back from about 50 down to beat us, if i recall? yes, much prefer it had not been played. 

that gather round was in response to the NRL and magic round, which has been a huge success. not sure gather round is as much of a success. works for the NRL because all games at the same ground, which is a great ground to watch footy. gather round seems all over the place. the AFL does many things very well but when they start trying to copy the NRL things do go pear-shaped. seems crazy. if i was in charge of either, i'd just say time to make a bigger pie. no need to worry about rugby which would spend its time navel gazing, if it was competent enough to find its navel. i'd even have two weekends a year where you do double headers - one Melbourne and one Sydney or brizzy - if it could be done (field sizes might make it hard) and get fans of both in. neither game going away. 

lions looking good but very early days. an injury or two can easily derail things. plus, as much as he could be a muppet, big joe is hard to replace. he did things no one else could do. he also did things no one else would want to do. but the kicks at the end of the giants semi, freakish. without those, we don't make the grand final let alone win it. hipwood is a very pale shadow of joe. seriously, there were games when members of the crowd had more touches than eric. lot of talk we want someone from the eagles who is supposed to be good. no idea - didn't think they had anyone good left (except that Reid kid). 

[MrBirdman]

3 hours ago, Ken Gargett said:

i'm horrified. the iggles here. apparently the iggles and rams are our allocated teams.

The Eagles and Rams are two of the teams with “rights” to the Australian market. I am not sure what that really means but it’s not surprising the NFL divys up the world like the Spanish and Portuguese did 500 years ago - empires are roughly the same size. 

Also there’s no question Mailata is a huge reason the Eagles were selected. The NFL is banking on the best left tackle in football serving as a perfect ambassador for the league. The guy was breaking concrete in Oz 6 years ago and is now earning ~$10M a year in the league despite being drafted without having played a snap of football. What a story. I mean it’s not exactly an easy feat to repeat since the guy is 6’8” and 380 pounds with abs, but I would love to see more international players in the NFL.

[Ken Gargett]

6 minutes ago, MrBirdman said:

The Eagles and Rams are two of the teams with “rights” to the Australian market. I am not sure what that really means but it’s not surprising the NFL divys up the world like the Spanish and Portuguese did 500 years ago - empires are roughly the same size. 

Also there’s no question Mailata is a huge reason the Eagles were selected. The NFL is banking on the best left tackle in football serving as a perfect ambassador for the league. The guy was breaking concrete in Oz 6 years ago and is now earning ~$10M a year in the league despite being drafted without having played a snap of football. What a story. I mean it’s not exactly an easy feat to repeat since the guy is 6’8” and 380 pounds with abs, but I would love to see more international players in the NFL.

absolutely agree. mailata is becoming better and better known here (oh the indignity of an Aussie playing for the iggles) and will be a perfect ambassador. great story (almost). 

i don't believe that they will have iggles v rams as an annual game down here - spreading it around must help - but i do understand that fans will want to follow a team and seeing them every year might help. but of course, the rams and iggles will only play each other, in the normal rounds, about once every four years so it can't be the annual game. 

[Bill Hayes]

6 hours ago, Ken Gargett said:

lot of talk we want someone from the eagles who is supposed to be good. no idea - didn't think they had anyone good left (except that Reid kid). 

Oscar Allen next year. He's a pretty good up and coming mobile key forward. I also like the idea of back-to-back games. I worked on the Melbourne Storm advertising account some time ago and we tried to get up the idea of duel memberships with Storm and MCG home AFL teams. Also merchandise. Reversable jumpers, beanies and scarfs but were unceremoniously knocked back. Too hard basket. Bit of a shy at the stumps but you've got to have a crack. A TV ad that thankfully I had nothing to do with was made. Really awful featuring Molly Meldrum Saints supporter (after he fell off a ladder and could hardly walk, let alone communicate and that idiot Collingwood supporter Joffa who's probably in jail.) Made no sense. Was cringe worthy embarrassing. Ha ha! Cheers